Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 27 Feb 2026

Grilled star fruit slices: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Grilled star fruit slices on grill pan

Grilled star fruit slices on grill pan

Averrhoa carambola - Star Fruit Carambola Tree

Averrhoa carambola - Star Fruit Carambola Tree

🍴 Grilled star fruit slices: quick-n-fun exotic recipes



Grilled Star Fruit Slices

Ingredients

  • 1 ripe star fruit (carambola)
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon butter or coconut oil

Instructions

  1. Slice the star fruit crosswise into star-shaped pieces.
  2. Heat a grill pan or skillet and lightly grease with butter or coconut oil.
  3. Place the slices on the hot surface and grill briefly on each side.
  4. Drizzle lightly with honey as the edges begin to caramelize.
  5. Serve warm as a tropical side dish or dessert topping.


🌿 About the plant:


Carambola, or Star Fruit, is a small tropical tree with glossy leaves and crisp, juicy fruit that slices into perfect stars.

🏡 In the garden:


Thrives in zones 9-11. Likes sun, regular water, and protection from strong winds. Dwarf varieties do well in large containers.

🛒 Plant Star Fruit Carambola Tree

📚 Learn more:

Plant Facts

Averrhoa carambola
Carambola, Starfruit, Five-finger, Balimbing
USDA Zone: 9-11
Small tree 10-20 ftSemi-shadeFull sunRegular waterEdible plantSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time
  • Averrhoa carambola in Plant Encyclopedia
  • How to gets lots of Star Fruit Carambola
  • Star Fruit from our garden
  • Grow your own Carambola
  • Top 10 fast-fruiting trees: #8. Carambola - Starfruit
  • Carambola Banana Whip
  • Carambola Jam recipe
  • When young Carambola trees are covered with fruit
  • Carambola tree is the Star of the orchard

  • #Food_Forest #Recipes

    🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

    Date: 13 Mar 2026

    Tamarind shrimp stir-fry: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

    Tamarind shrimp stir-fry in skillet

    Tamarind shrimp stir-fry in skillet

    🍴 Tamarind shrimp stir-fry: quick-n-fun exotic recipes



    Tamarind Shrimp Stir-Fry

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
    • 2 tbsp tamarind pulp
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 tbsp fish sauce
    • 1 tbsp brown sugar
    • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
    • 1 tbsp water (to loosen tamarind pulp if needed)
    • Optional: sliced green onions or chili flakes for garnish

    Instructions

    1. In a small bowl mix tamarind pulp, garlic, fish sauce, brown sugar, and water until a smooth sauce forms.
    2. Heat oil in a very hot skillet or wok.
    3. Add shrimp and stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes until they begin turning pink.
    4. Pour the tamarind sauce into the skillet and toss shrimp to coat evenly.
    5. Cook about 1 more minute until the sauce becomes glossy and slightly thick.
    6. Serve immediately. Garnish with green onions or chili flakes if desired.

    🌿 About the plant:


    The pulp of tamarind can be used fresh from the pod, pressed into blocks, or sold as concentrate. Its acidity works like citrus but with more complexity - slightly fruity, slightly caramel-like.

    🏡 In the garden:


    Tamarind trees - Tamarindus indica - are drought-tolerant once established and surprisingly hardy in brief cool snaps. They develop a beautiful spreading canopy and fine, fern-like leaves that close at night.

    🛒 Plant a Tamarind tree

    📚 Learn more:

    Plant Facts

    Tamarindus indica
    Tamarind, Sampalok
    USDA Zone: 9-11
    Large tree taller than 20 ftFull sunModerate waterEdible plantSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short timeFlood tolerant plantSeaside, salt tolerant plant

    Tamarindus indica in Plant Encyclopedia

    #Food_Forest #Recipes

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    Date: 24 Oct 2016

    Overwintering Adeniums outside of tropics

    Q: We bought several adenium plants from you. We are moving to the Denver area of Colorado. How can we make sure the plants survive? Should we use a green house?

    A: Adeniums are perfect container plants, and house plants. They can be easily grown outside of tropical climate. During winter, Adeniums drop leaves and go into dormancy which makes it easy to keep these plants in a dormant stage in a warm location of your house, or possibly even in well-lit spot of garage (with a window), with temperatures above 50-60F.
    Here in South Florida, during time of cold, when chances of freeze are high, we move our own Adenium collection into lanai, with plastic sheet protection around lanai.

    In colder climates, Adeniums can be kept indoors as house plants during winter. There are some requirements/tips for you:

    • Temperature. Move Adeniums indoors when temperature starts dropping below 45F.
    • SUNSHINE. Use SUNSHINE boosters to improve cold resistance of Adeniums, and essure healthy plant throughout winter. SUNSHINE-BC

    Date: 19 May 2016

    Care of mail-order plants during hot summer

    Q: I live in California and about a month ago ordered several plants from you, including fruit trees (Carambola, Mango, Avocado) and flowering trees (Xanthostemon, Adeniums, Champaca, Ylang Ylang). They were all doing well until I tried to move them into full sun, when they got leaf burn immediately. Ylang Ylang was doing great in a shade, but I repotted it from 1 gal into 3 gal and it is drooping leaves now. It has been very hot (over 100F) and dry (humidity is less than 25%). Any suggestions?

    A: Hot summer can be pretty challenging time for establishing new plants. These are some guidelines to make your summer gardening more successful and rewarding.

    1. You can order plants at any time, but keep your eye on your local weather forecast and try to chose cooler periods to schedule your plant shipments. Here at TopTropcals we monitor weather at destinations, and we can also delay shipment per your request until more favorable conditions.

    2. During hot Summer months, many plants are still OK to ship, and to be planted, many species are heat tolerant. It's usually safe to ship most succulents, including Desert roses and Euphorbias. Some fruit trees are pretty easy too, like Loquats, Mango, Eugenias. Many flowering trees can take heat: Acacias, Clusias, Jatropha, Sausage Tree, Plumerias and many others. Check our full list of plants suitable for hot and dry conditions. Most jasmines, including Jasmine Sambac and Trachelospermum make also a safe choice for hot weather planting.

    3. Use shade cloth or simply white sheets to protect young plants and new plantings from hot sun.

    4. When establishing mail ordered plants during hot weather, keep them in shade for longer period of time than average recommended 1-2 weeks. Give them a chance to establish really well. In areas with low air humidity, try to create a simple mist system

    Date: 17 Feb 2026

    Lunar New Year starts today - welcome the Year of the Fire Horse 2026 with Jasmines

    Year of the Fire Horse 2026 with its lucky plants Jasmines

    Year of the Fire Horse 2026 with its lucky plants Jasmines

    🔥 Lunar New Year starts today - welcome the Year of the Fire Horse 2026 with Jasmines

    • 💮 One of the luckiest plants for 2026 is Jasmine. Today, February 17, 2026, the Lunar New Year begins, welcoming the energetic and passionate Year of the Fire Horse.
    • 💮 If you’ve been feeling restless, ready for movement, or craving something fresh in your life - that’s Horse energy. This year is about action, authenticity, and doing things your way. And in Chinese tradition, certain plants help align your space with that powerful momentum.
    • 💮 Why Jasmine is especially lucky this year


      Jasmine symbolizes love, luck, and beauty - three themes closely connected to the Fire Horse’s vibrant spirit. Horses are social, expressive, and affectionate. Jasmine’s sweet fragrance supports harmony, romance, and positive energy in your home.
      In Feng Shui traditions, fragrant flowering plants help soften intense Fire energy. Jasmine does exactly that - it balances passion with calm.
    • 💮 How to use Jasmine for good fortune in 2026


    · Grow jasmine near entrances or windows to invite good luck into your home
    • · Place it in patios or garden walkways where its scent can circulate
    • · Use jasmine oil or candles in bedrooms to enhance relaxation and romantic harmony


    💮 Ready for momentum?


    Ready to feel bold, inspired, and a little unstoppable? The Year of the Fire Horse moves fast - and it rewards those who move with it. Think you need more clarity, more spark, more direction? Jasmine anchors that fire with calm confidence. It keeps the passion high and the chaos low.
    If you’re stepping into 2026 with purpose, don’t just make resolutions. Plant something living. Let jasmine bloom beside you - and grow into the year you’ve been waiting for.

    🛒 Discover lucky Jasmine plants

    📚 Learn more:
    #Horoscope #Perfume_Plants #Discover

    Plant Facts

    Chrysojasminum floridum, Jasminum odoratissimum, Jasminum floridum, Jasminum fruticans
    Showy Jasmine, Florida Jasmine, Yellow Jasmine, Fruity Jasmine
    USDA Zone: 9-11
    Plant used for bonsaiLarge shrub 5-10 ft tallVine or creeper plantSemi-shadeFull sunRegular waterYellow, orange flowersPlant attracts butterflies, hummingbirdsFragrant plantSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time
    🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals